Padres Pick Up Adrian Gonzalez's Option

Adrian Gonzalez wasn't supposed to finish the 2010 season with the San Diego Padres. Before the season got started there was a general consensus that the Padres were going to trade their slugging first baseman over the summer when it became obvious that they wouldn't be able to re-sign him to a longterm contract. Then a strange thing happened.

The Padres kept winning games, despite having one of the smallest payrolls in the league.

For the majority of the season the Padres were the lead dog in the NL West race until a terrible September collapse allowed the eventual champion Giants to clinch the division during the final weekend of the regular season. Still, as painful as that had to be for the Padres, there is a silver lining. It's because the team was able to compete all season that they couldn't trade Gonzalez and have now picked up his option for 2011.

General manager Jed Hoyer made the announcement Tuesday that the team picked up the $5.8 million option, which is an absolute steal for a player that hit 31 home runs in 2010, with 101 RBI and an OPS of .904 -- all while playing Gold Glove defense at first base.

Granted, this doesn't mean the Gonzalez trade rumors will stop in 2011. Gonzalez is now in the final year of his contract, and should the Padres struggle again in 2011, odds are that the team will explore trade possibilities again next summer should it feel like it's not going to be able to re-sign him next winter. Considering Gonzalez's history, he'll command a large salary should he ever hit the open market.